Monday, June 25, 2007

Attestation formalitites for Indians seeking Saudi jobs

A lot of friends from India have been asking me for information about the attestation procedure of their certificates before coming to work in Saudi Arabia. This post is intended for them. Working in Saudi Arabia is a challenge and so are the documentation requirements!A basic requirement for expatriates from India is that their educational certificates have to be attested and endorsed by various agencies, prior to visa stamping. Typically, this would be their degree certificate. This certificate has to be attested by the Ministry of Human Resources as well as the External Affairs Ministry of the Government of India before being endorsed by the Saudi Embassy in India. Please note that you cannot hire an agent to do this job, and the candidates themselves have to be physically present to do it #-o , so outstation candidates have to undergo the hassle of going to New Delhi personally!

First, take a postal order for Rs.50 addressed to "Secretary, Department of Secondary Education and Higher Education" payable in New Delhi.The Ministry is open only on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays for attestation, so outstation candidates must note this.

Please ensure that the Vice Chancellor's signature and seal are very clear in your degree certificate, otherwise it will be rejected by the Ministry. This could be quite inconvenient for outstation candidates.

If your degree certificate is laminated, make sure to remove the same, otherwise it will be forcibly torn by the attestation officer and the certificate may be damaged.

If your certificate is neither in English nor in Hindi, it must first be translated into English and attestetd by a gazetted officer before being submitted to the HRD Ministry.

If your degree or diploma has been issued in the state of Andhra Pradesh, you must first get the same by the General Administration Department of the Government of AP in Hyderabad. Similarly, if your certificate has been issued by Karnataka University, Dharwad, it must first be attested by the registrar of that university before being handed over to HRD Ministry, New Delhi.

Take a printout of the application form given here and attach your postal order, original certificate, marksheet of your final year / semester, photocopies of all of the above plus your passport copy.

The HRD Ministry opens at 9 am, but to beat the queue, you must reach there before 5.30 am I-) Do not entertain any brokers or agents, it is a waste of your money.

Accepted documents are verified and delivered between 3.30 pm to 4.00 pm.

External Affairs Ministry attestation procedure:

It takes around 10 minutes from HRD Ministry to reach the External Affairs Ministry by autorickshaw. The Ministry opens at 9 am. Go to Gate # 2 and submit your original certificates. Delivery will be done within one hour. ;;)

The final step is to take the attested certificates to the Saudi Arabian embassy. You will have to pay the equivalent of 300 Saudi Riyals, which is about Rs.450. You must reach the embassy before 10.30 am to get the delivery at 3.30 pm, otherwise, you will have to wait another day.

That's it! Hope you liked my post. I would appreciate if you could drop in your comments, which is my motivation to write more.

127 comments:

Assalamu wa alikum Expatguru,May Allah (SW) Reward you for your good work.This site is excellent.

Coming to the point,I got the job in Saudi Company as oracle apps DBA,In Iqama my profession is mentioned as system analyst.

While processing my visa in India I am unable to provide my BCA certificate because I passed this year 2008 (BCA from Open University) and the university took long time to provide my certificates.I have given my Professional Diploma certificate to the company agent and he has attested it from MHRD (Mumbai) and done the visa stamping, but it is not attested from Saudi embassy.

Alhamdulillah I have received my certificates from the university.

My problem is I am unable to do the attestation as I mentioned above my university took long time to send my certificates. My company had given me 1 month time after visa stamping and in that period I could not do the attestation.

1. I there any way that I can do attestation in India without my presence?2. Do I need to submit my BCA certificate for getting family visa?

You need to be physically present in India, as mentioned in my post above. Better take a short leave of 2 days combining with the weekend and get it done yourself. For getting your family visa, what matters is the profession in your iqama, but I would advise you to submit this also to be on the safer side, just to avoid inconvenience at a later date.

I have obtained the following comment from one of the readers and I reproduce below. I am yet to verify the same, and once I have some more details, I would update this post. In the meantime, the following comment is for your reference:

Hi Expatguru,

During 2nd week of June 08, i asked you about the attestation procedures, and you did mention the same, and to be done in Delhi, but the rules have changed now and the latest one is-1) Degree Authentication is done by respective state where the degree is issued, for me it was chennai, it takes almost 3 weeks to get this procedure complete in some cases even 5-6 weeks, one has to follow up almost daily with them after 2 weeks of submission- Application form, 1 rs Court Fees, copy of passport & copy of offer letter is enough2)Then the certificates has to be sent to MEA- Delhi where it would take just 1 hour, anybody on behalf of the candidate can do it, no ID proof required and no charges also3) once both the above are completed one has to submit to saudi consulate which is again full of uncertainity, they do it within a day and some time it they dont accept for weeks together

Dear Sir,My Engineering Degree Certificate was issued by Mysore University.What is the Procedure to be followed for Saudi Embassy attestation.Do I have to get my degree attested by the registrar before going to GAD Bangalore,HRD etc.Pl advice.Sorry to trouble you.ThanksJoseph

Please see my comment. I understand that there are some changes in the procedure for attestation. I have given here the procedure which was followed, but recently one of the readers had sent in his comments saying that the procedure has changed. I am yet to verify it and hence cannot advise you of the exact updated procedure.

Dear Sir.,last week i got placement for saudiarabia through client interview as a production engineer.i was finished my BE in 2002 in bharathidasan university,trichy,tamilnadu.i didnt attest my certificate for saudiarabia.already i summit my passport for visa stamping etc.. to my consultant agent.the problem is now consultant ask me me to attest my degree certificate for safe.plz clear my doubts follow..1.procedures for attest clearly.2.how long it will take if i summit my certificate to consultant after i finish only HRD?

Hi,I am in Saudi Arabia and have General Systems Analyst profession in Iqama.I have BCOM degree and a computer diploma.My degree is attested by saudi embassy but not the diploma.Does this mean I was granted Systems Analyst based on degree and not diploma.Also I am changing my job and my new sponser has computer engineer visa.Do I need computer engineering degree for this visa? Can I get computer engineer visa based on on my BCOM degree and computer diploma.What is the difference between General Systems Analyst Visa and Computer Engineer Visa?Thanks,Syed

If your new sponsor is having an engineer visa and is ready to provide the same to you, then it hardly matters whether you are a diploma or a degree. You may be already aware that the profession in your iqama need not necessarily match with your qualification, though ideally we would all like it to be so. In your case, it is your new sponsor's responsibility to take care of these things and not yours. If need be, get your diploma also attested by the Saudi embassy.

I am working in Saudi Arabia and want to change my job. My question is if i resign and go out on final exit to India, do i need an NOC from my previous employer in saudi arabia to attest a new visa for saudi arabia to join a new job in the Kingdom.

I have got a teaching post in Jeddha, even I received my visa no. But one of my PG certificate yet to be stamped in Chennai secretariat.But It seems the consulate will be colsed 24th Septmeber, i don't see any ray of hope of my certifcate getting before 24th is it ok, if I go for my visa stamping after they reopen the embassy in Delhi for stamping and Mumbai for visa stamping?

Your question is not very clear. It is normal for the Saudi embassies and consulates to be closed during Ramadan and Hajj periods just prior to the respective Eid holidays. You have no choice but to wait until the embassy / consulate reopens.

I have completed all the Indian attestation formalities (Attested from HRD and MEA India) and would like to know about the exact procedure of Saudi attestation of both educational and non educational documents. Because at last Monday that I visited to Saudi embassy New Delhi but security guards has refused my entry to embassy and said that “embassy has stopped the personal submission of documents for attestation and you should come through agents or us, they are charging 1500 INR per documents and returning back after 1 or 2 weeks. So I want to know this procedure is correct or not? Are security guards of embassy bluffing me or what? So please I request you to guide me.Thanking you

Please read my comment dated 11th August, 2008 mentioned above. As per one of the readers of this blog, the procedure has changed, but I am yet to verify it. I am unable to help you in the absence of updated information.

What it means is that the Saudi Embassy will affix three 100 - Riyal stamps. You have to pay the equivalent of that in Indian rupees. At the time of writing this post, the equivalent of SR300 was Rs.450, but this keeps varying day to day depending on exchange rates.

I am an MCA- post graduate. which certificate should i go for the attestation?i have done my BSc graduation and then did MCA, Please suggest me what should i go for, i m planning to process the WorkPermit for SAUDI. Should i do the attestation for MCA certicate which is the only technical certificate with me..Best regards,Binod

yes expatguru, i am working in IT industry. i would be going there for a long term. thanks, that means i need to get my MCA certificate attested.. one more query plz, i want to take my wife with me, does the same rule applies to her, she is not working- house wife.. should she make her certificate attested also?

I am planning to take up a job offered to me in Saudi Arabia. After going through the blog my understanding is first HRD then MEA and finally Saudi Counsalate. Please correnct if I am wrong. Got few doubts;1. What is the prerequisite before proceeding for attestations? Do we need to have offer letter etc?2. Can the degree attestation done by the agents? 3. My MCA degree is from Bangalore University, should I get the HRD attestation from Banagalore?4. For MEA attestation can the agents do the job?5. I understand that after HRD&MEA, attestations need to be done by Saudi Embassy in Mumbai/Delhi. Do I need to appear them personally? What is the duration of days required to get the job done at Saudi Embassy, since I am from Kerala planning needs to be done accordingly.6. Can I get the papers required to bring the family attested together along with the above?7. Can the medical tests be taken in kerala?

iam a indian born australian citizen. i passed my masters dbachelors in india(i migrated to australia 5 years back). iam planning to move to middle east for work egree in australia and my and settle there.

my question is

do i have to attest my australian degree? if yes where?

do i have to attest my indian bachelors degree in delhi? it is not required if i attest my masters only.

Sir,First Of all I want to Thank you from my heart to provide all these informations for our all fellow Indians- God may bring all your wishes true.

I have been selected in a Saudi Company & they have sent me the scanned offer letter. Consultant is telling me to get 10 passport size coloured photographs, Original Passport & my original B.E Degree cerificate before carrying out for medical test in Mumbai.But as per your column what I feel that you need to go to the respective state for your degree authentification.For original cerificates also - you need to do these things?But my consultant is not asking for these Can you please throw some light in this Sir?

Eagerly waiting fr your response. It will be very helpful if at all I can get your E mail ID or phone number

Thanks for your comments. You need to get your original certificate attested as mentioned here. Please also read the comments of other readers, as now you can get the attestation done in your home state itself. Make sure you do not laminate your original certificate. It will be torn by the Saudi Embassy (probably damaging it in the process)!. They will bend one corner of your original certificate, staple it, and put their rubber stamp with half the rubber stamp on the bent portion and the other half on the back side of the certificate. Terrible, isn't it, but that's the way the system works.

As a policy, I do not wish to reveal my private email id and phone number.

thank u very much 4 sharing this valuable informations with us, now i have one doubt in my mind. i am belonging to tamilnadu and i pursued my msc-software degree from periyar university. now i want to get my certificate tobe attested. for that it is necessary tht my certificate is to be attested by tamilnadu first. otherwise shall i go directly to delhi to get attestation.

Earlier one had to go to Delhi personally to do the attestation. I have been informed by one of the readers (see the comment above dated 11th August, 2008) saying that the attestation is now done in the respective states itself. Sitting in Saudi, I am unable to verify this, but since the reader says that he has done it himself, I have to believe him. I would advise you to first try it in Tamil Nadu itself and then take the services of an agent to get it re-attested in Delhi, as mentioned in the comments above. Do take some time to update us your experience, for the benefit of other people.

assalam walaikum for all readers.i would like to inform you that,presently iam working in saudi arabia working as a accountant,icame to saudi arabia on free viza, profession of that viza is plumber, now my company asking to me get my certificate by saudi attachtation with saudi embassy,i have b.com certificate. i send my certificate to india one of the agent they completed by certificate attested with HRD & sAUDI EMBASSY, MY QUESTION IS HOW I KNOW THE AGENTS ARE DID ORIGINAL ATTESTED.IF ANY ONE THEY CAN EXPLAIN TO ME HOW I CAN GET INFORMATION OF MY ATTESTED FOR MY CERTIFICATE.

There is no way of knowing that. Before giving your certificate to an agent, you must ensure that he is a reputed one. Once you give the job of attestation to an agent, you have to TRUST him otherwise do not give such important documents to any agent at all.

The people working at Saudi Embassy in Delhi are very bad.My wife visited it several times.They have official opening time from 930 to 11:30 but they work from 10:00 - 1100.There is no reception ,No one to ask no one to to reply except a Indian Guard who tries to help fellow Indian.If you cal them by phone they never answer a phone even if they do their attitude is arrogant and inflicting.They Should be kicked from our country for such a behaviour to Indians in their own country not to talk about here in the Kingdom.Also for the readers Don't send your wife there.They try to help an alone female with dubious intentions telling her Agent will take money but they can do the visa work without money. I am narating events of last 2 days .

Dear Expatguru,It is a nice & very helpful website.I just want to add a little bit of information.I came to Saudi Arabia in April, 2008.I did part of this attesttation procedure myself.I got my engineering degree certificates attested from west Bengal Govt., Home dept. first, then from dept.of external affairs office in Kolkata (other metro cities/ state capitals also must be having the same).For Saudi attestation, I got it done through the VISA processing agent in Mumbai.West Bengal govt. attestation took around 20 days,Dept.of external aff. took 1 day (same day in the morning it is to be submitted before 1.00PM & they return it attested at 4.00 PM).I have a question for you. At present I am doing this procedure for my wife's VISA.If you or any other person reading it, can enlighten by giving address of any VISA processing agent in KOLKATA it will be very helpful.Thanks & regardsAmiya Mukherjee

Wonderful, I have no words to express my gratitude, its very useful. Kindly try to update - for eg. one of the readers have commented that the initial attestation can be done from the state HRD itself, please try to verify the authenticity of this piece of information. May Allah bless you with good health, peace of mind and a bright future.

I would also like to comment on Dr. Belal's comment about Indian Embassy, Riyadh - recently I too had a bitter experience, I called the Embassy before going there and they informed me that their timing starts from 8:30 am, I was there by that time, on the front office notice board it was written : Timings from 8:45, inside, on the wall of the counter it was written 9 a.m and then there was no one to attend till 9:30, when enquired they said the concerned person is on sick leave and who will replace him is not yet decided. Then after some arguments, one of the staff from the Human Welfare section came to receive applications, it was around 10:00 a.m by then, what a wonderful Embassy, we are blessed with such sincere and dedicated social servants.

Hi, I did my M.Sc IT from Periyar university. I am a keralite and like to knowwhther the HRD can be done from kerala itself. Or do i need to go to Tamilnadu for that. If so, can you please guide me to the HRD center in tamilnadu. The Periyar University is situated in Salem. Looking forward for your reply. Also i like to know whether my certificate have to be attested to bring my wife on family visa.

Usually the attestation is done from the state where your university is located, in this case Tamil Nadu. I suggest you hire a reputed professional agent to do this work for you. Please my blog elsewhere where I have written the procedure for family visa.

Hi There Thanks For a wonderfull work, well my qustion is i was in saudi arabia for 10 years work with M.O.H, as X-Ray Tech, now i'm back after resignation and i do have a N.O.C now i wish to change my profession and go on a visa known as" fanni hasib aali" or " fanni jawalath" visa is not yet issued my my employer is about to get, all my certificates or attasted by saudi embassy but my diploma previously was a medical one now i have a new diploma from a local institute( not recognize my indian governament) and CCNA from US as you may know, what certificates do i need to attast? as well in this catogary of visa can i take my family visa?

and will it be ok as i was in medical background now in computers networking?thanks a lot

If you have a certificate not recognized by University Grants Commission (UGC) in India, for sure it will not be attested by the Ministry of External Affairs. I am not sure what your visa category means, but it would be better to get a visa suiting your profession. You do not need an NOC to re-enter the kingdom for employment.

I am working in Saudi for the past 1 year. My visa shows me as a Heavy Truck Driver whereas i am designated as Welding Inspector in my company. I am about to get married next year. I wish i could bring my wife tnr a family status. I am already claiming the benefits like housing allowances entitled to me. What complications could i face in bringing my wife to Saudi? What should i do and where do i start?

Unfortunately, you have landed yourself in a non-supervisory category visa. To add to your woes, this position cannot even be transferred. You will have to go out of the kingdom and return on a fresh supervisory category visa for you to bring your family here.

I am a Civil Engineer from Mumbai, All Education done in Mumbai ,Currently working in Dubai ,have got a good opportunity in Riyadh and Planning to move to Riyadh ,Can you assist regarding attestation of my Certificate and visa endorsement ,I believe as My Passing university is Mumbai and there is a Consulate in Mumbai, hence i can do the attestation from HRD and visa endorsement from Mumbai ,i am not sure do whether I have to do the procedure in Delhi or Mumbai. Please assist me regarding this as i have to decide whether to fly to Mumbai or to Delhi from Dubai (i am currently working in DubaiYour feedback regarding this issue will be highly appreciated.

I came to Saudi on 25th Feb 2009 on a job visa.I would like to resign my job as it is a probation period(3Months as per contract).My sponsor didn't take my passport still. What could be the possible hurdles I can face if I resign? Please help me out.

I am in Saudi Arabia on Business Visa. I need to go to India (New Delhi) for my work visa.I have already worked in Duabi, so my attestation has been done for Engineering Degree Certificate from Min of HRD and Min. of External affair.

I wanted to know the time frame for the following activities:

1. Visa processing (once all the documents attested and Medical report is ready) -How many days it will take. Can I submit it on Tuesday and get the Visa on Thursday2. Can I submit the visa application and Saudi Embassey atetstion at the same time.3. I belongs to Kota(rajasthan),Can I submit teh visa application from Mumbai as well ?Your earliest response will be appriciated.

Things don't work as fast as what you imagine. It would take a minimum of 2 to 3 weeks for the process to get over. The attestation would be done in a day (since you already have the MEA attestation) but it is the rest of the processing which takes time. You can submit your application in either Mumbai or Delhi.

Recently while getting my certificate attested there seems to be some change in process at saudi embessy.As per the rule of Saudi GOVERNMENT with effect from 1st apirl . All the Educational Document attestations should be counter sighned by Saudi Medical Attache ,New delhi. The procedure as follows

1.We need to submit photo copy of the certificate along with the Offer Letter or Iqama copy ,Passport copy and Speicified DD in the name of the university.Attache will send the copy of certificate along with DD for verfication to concerned university.

2.Attache will counter sighn after verification recieved from the concerned university only.

This offer letter needs to in original duly verified by saudi chember.

Anonymous is absolutely right, the process has become very Cumbersome and time consuming. So guys, give yourself plenty of time to get your certificates attested by Saudi Embassy and make sure you properly communicate your employer in Saudi about the new process, they are not aware of this new process.

Attache will send a copy of your certicates to your concerned university. This will take a week to reach your University's concerned department. To expediate the process, run around the university and get hold of people who look after this process and expediate the process. Otherwise, the University will take its own time. The best thing will be to take the reference number from the Saudi Attache office for your document while submitting it and provide that to the university for a faster lookup of your document.

After the university complete its verification, it will send it back to saudi attache by Speed Post EMS, ususally takes 3-4 days depending upon where you are.

Finally, the attache will call you to bring your certificates for attestation along with job offer letter on company's letter head duly attested by Saudi chamber of commerece.

No way they are going to attest your certificates without the official job offer as mentioned above.

Above all, your certificates need to be HRD, MHD and all those things.

Just need to add one more thing to my last update, after the saudi attache attest the certificate, the certificates then needs to be attested by the Saudi Embassy. Now, Saudi Embassy is not accepting the certificates if you go in-person, they are asking to submit the certificates via agents. So, its no point going in person to get your certificates attested unless you know somebody who can get your job done in a day after the cultural attache's attestation.

The process is now changed. The HRD counter is closed in New Delhi.. The concerned state governments needs to attest the certificates. Eg karnataka university students needs to get attested from govt of karnataka only. For attestation of Ministry of External affairs for few states the branches are opened in their respective state capitals.Else need to visit delhi. no need of visiting personally you can send your friend or any body. Its free of cost and no need of taking 50/- IPO.

Hey guys the degree attestation procedure from Saudi Embassy has changed from July,08. Given below is the full procedure for degree attestation:1. Get your degree attested from Department of Higher Education from your respective State Ministry. For e.g. If you completed your degree from M.P. you should get it attested from the M.P. Government’s Department of Higher Education. Similar for other states.The documents required are:-1. Original & photocopy of Degree.2. Original & photocopies of 10th & 12th Mark sheets.3. Original & photocopies of Final year degree mark sheets.4. An Application form which you can get from the department itself.5. Passport size photograph (1) to be attached in the form.6. An Affidavit declaring your Personal, Professional & Educational details along with the passport number & the reason why you want your degree attested in a 10/- stamp.7. Passport Original.8. Attach all the photocopies of degree, mark sheets along with the Affidavit & Application form.9. All these photocopies should be attested from a gazette officer. For M.P. candidates the degree attestation is done in Vallabh Bhawan, Bhopal (MP). The timings are from 02:00pm to 05:00pm in weekdays. Submit the documents in the higher education department & keep the original degree & passport with you. The degree will be attested by the Secretary, Department of Higher Education & he will ask for your passport & the reason for attestation. You’ll get the degree attested the same day.

2. Next, get the degree attested by the External Affairs Ministry in New Delhi. The Ministry’s Office is in Patiala House, Tilak Marg, near INDIA GATE. The document submission timings are from 09:00 am to 12:00 noon. The only documents required are original & photocopy of Degree. There will be a separate queue for Gulf. On submission of documents you’ll get a token no. Degree will be attested around 12:00 noon so be in time. Don’t entertain the agents; it’s a waste of money.

3. Next, the degree needs to be attested from Saudi Embassy’s Cultural Office. The Office is in 82, Sundar Nagar, near Nizamuddin NEW DELHI. The degree will be attested from the Embassy through an agent so search for an agent either in internet or reach the Culture office around 08:30 in the morning. Make sure the agent has an ID card with a stamp provided by Saudi Embassy. The documents needed are Original degree, copy of your passport (both front & back) & the offer letter of the company. The agents charge 1500/- as fee if you provide these documents. In case you don’t have an offer letter they’ll charge 3500/-. The documents are submitted only from Monday to Wednesday.

4. Finally, degree attestation from Saudi Embassy takes around 07 to 10 days. Keep following up with the agent about the status.

i just want to add one more info...if u r working in a govt.sector in saudi arabia there is no need to get the offer letter attested by saudi chamber of commerce..just a copy of the offer letter stamped by ur office authorities will be sufficient..this applies to all MOH staffs..i verified the same with one of my friend who is an HRD agent in delhi.THANKS A MILLION FOR YOUR INFORMATIVE POSTS...

Dear Expatguru,i have employed by a company as a salesman to work in al- khobar, saudia arabia,for 2025 SAR including HRA, My agency charging a service charges for this before going, my question is that is it ok to pay to the agency to go there,as there is nothing mentioned in the company offer letter and also i did'nt find much details about the company, i may be thinking that company paying me off very less salary.

i am confused what to do with this. waiting for your reply;regards. AK

Thanx for all the valuable suggestions. They are very helpful. Just wanted to discuss my case for your valuable feedback.

I am an Indian (bangalorean) presently working in dubai and have got a job in Saudi for a sales position(biomedical engineer visa) whereas Im actually a electronics and communcation engineer. Now my BE degree is already attested from Delhi and I also got it attested here in UAE as well.Now i intend to wind up from UAE and head to India and then proceed to Saudi after a month.My questions are:1. Do i need to get my degree attested from the Saudi embassy or not as it is already attested twice ie.in DElhi and UAE

2. I heard that you need to get the Saudi visa stamped or endorsed and do a medical test probably after getting hold of some agent in MUmbai. I live in bangalore so i wanna know if the same procedure can be cariied out in bangalore itself. what i want to know is whether the agent is necessary or the above procedures can be done directly by youself by going to the relevent offices and what will be the costs involved, and can these be done in banaglore itself.

My Wife is a Dentist by profession and she has got an offer from Saudi please let me know if I can also go as a dependant on her family Viza and find a job there, what is to time period for getting a family viza in saudi

Please use the link given in the top right hand corner of this blog for a detailed personalized reply. I charge a nominal fee for the same.This helps me segregating spam from genuine requests while also giving you a personalized detailed reply.

Query about Wakkalah: I am based in Dubai & was offered a job in KSA,after going through all processes, Wakkalah was sent by my prospective employer to my chosen agency back home. Meanwhile due to some reasons I no longer remained interested for the position any more but didnt inform neither Agency nor prospective employer.After awhile, the agency wanted to still charge me for that process which they suppose to initiate / remove my name from their list (they had my pp copy, original wakalah & cert copies), but no medicals). I still ignored. Finally,to take revenge, they(agency) sent the msg to my prospective employer stating that they can't process my visa stamping with KSA consulate since my certificate is not originally attested (on the contrary it is original). My employer sent me a note that they will no longer offer me this position (which i already had decided to let go myself). My worry is, can my prospective employer / KSA Immigration put me into the BLACK LIST or if there is an automated system barring to travel ever again & refrain me to visit for business, Hajj or Umra in the future? (I am not interested in Work Visa).Your reply shall be very helpful for me to determine by eligiblity (note: nothing has been stamped on my passport, only Wakkalah was sent along with original Job offer from my prospective employer to the agency back home, stating Agency as my rep)Thanks a million

Hello All i am in Saudi Now and i want to attest my Degree and Marriage Certificates which i have it with me in Saudi ... How it is possible do that ...pls assist me i will be very very greatful for the assistance.

Things are changed now, this is what the Work Visa process for KSA.1.Employer has to raise request to Saudi Labour commission in KSA to get Visa (Engineer,Analyst,Nurse,Doctor etc..)2.Once Work Visa is approved,the employee has to provide the agent details (Agent name, location and Lic no) to the employer to make Power of Attorney.3.Employer has to upload Work Visa approved letter,Work Contract (Offer Letter) and Power of attorney on MOFA website and copy has to be given to the Employee for further process.4.Mean while Employee has to get the Degree Cert attested from HRD,MEA and Saudi cultural dept.5.All the docs above said pt.3 and along with attested deg cert, Filled Visa application form and Passport the Employee has to submit these docs to Saudi Consulate through the agent mentioned on the Power of attorney.6.Saudi consulate will verify all these docs on MOFA website and hard copies and will issue request to do medical tests.7.This issue letter has to be carried to the Saudi authorised medical center to undergo the tests.8.Medical center has to upload the test report on MOFA web and 1 copy to be issued to the Employee.9.Once med test is done and inline with the requirement Embassy will provide the Visa stamp on the Passport.This completes Visa process.

Hi.. I need an urgent help.. Please help me.. Iam working as a Network Administrator in Saudi Arabia for last 1 year . My educational Background to be told , I Have Failed in My Btech( Engineerng ) degree . SO i do not have a Degree Certificate . I came to saudi Arabia in a Labour Visa. Recently i contacted a online website that Assured me that they Could Provide me a Bachlor Degree in Computer Networking by Verifying my previous job Experience certificates and they could send me the certficates with in 30 days. The Corlin University Based in US. They said they can get my certf stamped and legalize from US Ministry of Foreign Affairs ,US Department of State and Notary Republic and send it to me for total of 1074 dollar .If I got this Certificate after these US attestations , what should i do next to get SAUDI JOB VISA from any company if they choose me ? Iam an Indian Do i need INDIAN embassy or Indian HRD attestation ?? I will prefer Cancelling my existing VISA and would comeback with a new Good VISA with a new Company..But what i should with this new US degree Certficate to get reconised my Saudi Authorities while my new Company apply for a VISA for me to come from India to Saudi. Can i attest this Degree Certficate from Saudi EMbassy in Saudi Itself me sitting in Saudi Arabia ??

I have completed my BCOM degree from a open university after my 12th class is it fine that i can produce my both certificates for attestation and i want to know whether 10+2 is compulsory required as i have failed in +2 or only my 10th class & BCOM degree can do

I am presently working in saudi arabia as an electrical engineer and now my company wants to transfer my sponsorship to them, but they are asking for my degree certificate attestation and i have completed only GAD attestation so can i send my certificates to india to complete process of HRD , MEA and Saudi Embassy attestation... please helppp!!!!!

I got a job in saudi and they are asking for the university and HRD ministry attestation. I completed my B TEch degree from kerala, and i`m presently working in gujarat. Is it required to go to kerala for the attestion or if i go direct to delhi is it possible to get attested.

Sir, I am from Andhra pradesh,India.I got the offer letter from the employe in saudi arabia,now one of their Indian Cosular called me and asked me to do some attestation from university and then from secretariat so i am unable to understand what to do and how to proceed and whom to meet and all...please help me..Attestation should be done on ORIGINAL CERTIFICATES ? or On Photocopies ? I have to attest all my tenth,inter and degree certificates or only Degree Certificate is enough..?? pls any assist mee...

Hi Expatguru, I want to do HRD attestation to my Bachelor degree for Saudi Visa, so i gone through your note n find it very helpful. But I cant download the application form from your link. please help me to find the application form.

When you click on the link, it will open up another post. Please go through that and when you browse down, you will find the form. If you have further difficulties, please email me at expatguru@gmail.com

Excellent information guru. i will be moving to ksa from chicago on a engineer visa andi wanted to know if i need to get my indian marriage certificate attested for obtaining a family visa for my wife and kids?

We are the company based in Ahmedabad and we got the work from Saudi company for deputing our engineers. We already got the invitation letter from Saudi company, however we are not getting any agent who can do work permit visa for us or give us guidance for documentation and process.Please guide us.Thanks,Jaymin

Please fill in your query in the form using the link in the top right corner of this blog. I charge a nominal fee for my consultancy, which would get you a detailed, personalized and confidential reply by email.

Please fill in your query in the form using the link in the top right corner of this blog. I charge a nominal fee for my consultancy, which would get you a detailed, personalized and confidential reply by email.

Dear Sir, I would like to know, what are the procedure for attestation of my College Bonafide Certificate, as i have to renew my Iqama ( Residence Permit)in Saudi Arabia.Currently I'm residing in Pune as I am Completing my Studies. My father, who has been working in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia has asked me to get my Bonafide Certificate attested by the Saudi Embassy , for renewal of my Iqama. Please help!

i am working in Saudi Arabia. my profession is Telecom Technician. i want to change my profession. i am a B.Tech(ECE) from JNTU University,Already i made embassy attestation for educational certificate( B.Tech Professional certificate),,, the attestation is made in Delhi as in stamping it is written as Consulate General of the United Arab Emirates Mumbai-India,,on stamping it also written in arabic.. plz confirm me the Attestation is help me to make a changes in my Profession as Telecom Engineer, on back side of the cerfication it Attested as NOtary stamping and 1 Red Stamping and Authenticated Stamping from Hyderabd Secretariate...plz confirm me it help me to make Professional to change from Telecom Technician to Telecom Engineer..

Hello,Am working as a male nurse in an industry and the agent brought me here on a labor visa, and i got my Iqama as labor. But i returned my Iqama and the consulate in Saudi rejected it because they need all my certificates to be attested. Can we do that attestation in Saudi Arabia with out going to India? If yes what are procedures for it? I was not known about all these things before. I thought that they can cgange my profession easily after reaching here in Saudi.

Please fill in your query in the form using the link in the top right corner of this blog. I charge a nominal fee for my consultancy, which would get you a detailed, personalized and confidential reply by email.

Now I am working in Saudi arabia. I am on business visa. Now they are planning to change my visa to system analyst visa. But problem is, I dont have degree. I had completed my diploma in Telecommunication . But its not attested . So i need to know,

1 . without degree certificate will i get system analyst visa2 . or visa stamping is possible without attestation of my Diploma (3 years) certificate.

But my company is saying visa stamping is possible without attestation of my diploma certificate. waiting for your reply..

Please fill in your query in the form using the link in the top right corner of this blog. I charge a nominal fee for my consultancy, which would get you a detailed, personalized and confidential reply by email.

I am working in saudi arabia as an Electrical Engineer and its been 1 year here.

i was here on a free visa and got a job.

My profession on iqama is House Electrician (Kaharbaayi Mabaani).and i need to change my profession to electrical engineer.

I do consult an agent in india and he said me send my certificates along with a letter from my company as i am working in company.and he said me to attest the letter from "CHAMBER OF COMMERCE" and "MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS".

My letter got attested from CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, but the person in Ministry Of Foreign Affairs is not ready to attest the letter.He is telling me that MOFA attestation is not required.I requested him many times but his answer is same and also said me that he is working from 10 years and he knows well.

Now i don't know what to do. can you please suggest me what to do and whats the process is.

Note: I just attested my certificates from my state i.e. from Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh only, and NOT attested from saudi embassy.I just need to change profession on iqama from electrician to engineer.

Expat Guru and other members,Thanks a lot for your efforts in making this wonderful forum. Procedures for degree/diploma attestation in India have again changed. Let me elaborate the same for everybody else:1) First and most difficult Step is to get the degree certificate attested from State GAD dept. Generally there departments are located in the State capital cities. You have to locate these for your state. In my case for Punjab State the dept. Name was “Directorate of Public Instructions (Colleges) Punjab, Mohali Chandigarh" who is authorized to attest the documents on behalf of education dept. of the state. Now the main fun starts. You will get a request form for attestation from this dept. whereby you will fill up the details of your degree and awarding university alongwith a copy of degree certificate. Based on your request the dept. will send a hardcopy postal mail (no email) to your university requesting to verify the genuineness of your degree. This postal letter from a government office will reach your university and registrar of your university will post a letter back to the dept confirming the degree credentials. This is most time consuming process. Generally all the government universities in India also take time to reply to such requests. Also in some cases university may ask for a fee in form is DD to do this verification. This you will only come to know once you will be physically available at the university registrar office for expediting your verification. Don’t forgot to take a copy of this DD as you will be required to submit the copy of this DD at embassy as a supporting document. In some cases based on your luck State GAD also hands over the sealed request letter to the applicant for by-hand delivery to avoid the postal delay. On return you can also bring back the verification letter signed and sealed in envelope from your university. But again this process may vary from officers at dept. and university end. Not to mention the power of bribe in India which can make anything possible and can cut short procedures. So, as per process once dept. will receive the hard copy verification letter from university you will get a stamp from state education dept. on the back side of the degree confirming that" Document is authenticated". Cheers!!! Now you pain is almost over. 50% job done. 2) Second step is to get the attestation from Ministry of External affairs which is already elaborated. 3) This third step has been recently introduced by Saudi Embassy Delhi. If you are being hired by any Saudi Company through any of the approved manpower consultants, in addition to the State GAD attestation, the consultant will also have to post a letter to your university requesting verification of your degree credentials. Again the complete postal procedure b/w your consultant and university will start. 4) Finally after all these steps your degree along with all the supporting documents shall be submitted to Saudi embassy for attestation.

Please fill in your query in the form using the link in the top right corner of this blog. I charge a nominal fee for my consultancy, which would get you a detailed, personalized and confidential reply by email.

Please fill in your query in the form using the link in the top right corner of this blog. I charge a nominal fee for my consultancy, which would get you a detailed, personalized and confidential reply by email.

Hello,I am a specialist (Doctor), who had been selected in an interview held by Ministry of Higher Education KSA, at Delhi through a consultancy agent.I had also got my Job Offer letter from Shaqra University along with 1 year contract. I had submitted all my attested documents on time to the agent and also had done my medical check up as told. I have received my Visa letter also from Cultural Attache Saudi, but now I am being told by the agent that the University is refusing to give visa.I had already resigned from my previous job and now I am Jobless. Please help and guide me.ThanksDR M A Sayed

Unfortunately, this is a common mistake which people make. Saudi is no longer a land of milk and honey. Unemployment is huge and so is crime, though it is not reported in the media. Whatever happens is for good and believe me, you are better off in India than here. Everyone goes through a rough patch and I am sure you would overcome this temporary phase. Take back your certificates, try hard and you are sure to get a very good opening in India itself. Most importantly, do not lose your spirit, because if you do so, you are as good as dead. The best of human beings come out when they are stressed out. All the best, Sayed!

Firstofall hand full of Applauds for you for being helpful in resolving out confusions of many Indians.

So Iam here to discuss you with my problem and hope you will resolve me out favourably.I have passed B.Tech from Hyderabad.My certificates were already GAD, HRD & MEA INDIA Attested.Later I have got recruited in Saudi Arabia as a QA/QC Engineer but they issued a labor visa as company doesn't have any kind of Engineer Visa for Indians.Now the problem is How I can make my certificates attested from Saudi Embassy to procure delay in future in processing of recruiting to other companies of KSA.My company is trying alot but I came to know that they cant change my visa profession.How I can Justify with my future career??

Please fill in your query in the form using the link in the top right corner of this blog. I charge a nominal fee for my consultancy, which would get you a detailed, personalized and confidential reply by email.

Please fill in your query in the form using the link in the top right corner of this blog. I charge a nominal fee for my consultancy, which would get you a detailed, personalised and confidential reply by email.

Please fill in your query in the form using the link in the top right corner of this blog. I charge a nominal fee for my consultancy, which would get you a detailed, personalised and confidential reply by email.

The time now in Saudi Arabia is

How to contact me

Readers requiring personalized consultancy may contact me by filling the form in the link given here (Please click here). Please note that this is a paid consultancy. Unfortunately, I do not entertain free requests.